Got Questions About the Election?

When and where is the Democratic National Convention?
The DNC will take place September 3rd to 6th in Charlotte, N.C. You can learn more at http://charlottein2012.com/

When and where is the Republic National Convention?
The RNC will take place August 27th – August 30th in Tampa Bay, Fla. You can learn more at http://2012tampa.com/

How do I find out what kind of voter ID I need for my state?
The National Conference of State Legislators has compiled a full list. You can go online to www.ncsl.org. If you still have questions, you can contact your local county elections office by calling 1-866-MYVOTE-1 and transferring to the local office.

How do I find my local county elections office?
You may call 1-866-MYVOTE-1 or go to the Election Administration Commission’s website at www.eac.gov and just click on your state.

What if I try to vote but don’t have one of the required voter IDs?
While the rules my vary slightly from state to state, all local election officials must ask you to complete a confidential provisional ballot that will be counted after your signature is verified with the signature on your voter registration application.

How do I know if I’m still registered to vote?
You may call 1-866-MYVOTE-1 or you can go to http://canivote.org, which is a site sponsored by the National Association of Secretaries of State. You can find your state and you can enter your drivers’ license number or your first and last names, date of birth, the county you live in and your local zip code. Check now to avoid any drama on Election Day, but the standard rule is that as long as you have not moved since you last voted, you are still registered to vote. If you have moved – even in the same city – you will need to re-register.

How do I know when the deadline is for registering to vote?
Every state has different deadlines. You may call 1-866-MYVOTE-1 or you can go to http://canivote.org, click on the “Make Your Vote Count: Absentee Voting and Early Voting” button to go to your specific state to find out your state’s deadline.

I’m going to travelling on Election Day, how do I make sure I get an absentee ballot?
Don’t wait until the last minute. You may call 1-866-MYVOTE-1 to transfer to your local county election office or you can go to canivote.org, click on the “Make Your Vote Count: Absentee Voting and Early Voting” button to go to your specific state to find out how to request a ballot.

How do I find out who is my congressman and if he or she is up for re-election?
Go to the Project Vote Smart website votesmart.org where you can search by name, state, city, zip code to find out your congressman’s status.

If the Electoral College ultimately decides the results of the presidential election by, why should I vote?
Your vote counts because the candidate who wins the most popular votes in each state is the candidate themembers of Electoral College votes for. Each state has a different set of electoral vote. You can keep track of the votes by using the following calculator that the National Archives for Records Administration has created: www.archives.gov.

What is the Electoral College?
The role of the Electoral College is explained in the U.S. Constitution, which says state legislators decide how electors will be chosen in their states. First, each political party in a state nominates a slate (list) of electors. These electors are usually pledged to support the party's nominee for president and vice president. In some states, electors are legally required to vote for their candidate.

Each state has as many electors as it has members in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives combined. The electoral college thus includes 535 electors from the states, one for each of the 435 members of the House plus one for each of the 100 senators. Another three electors represent the District of Columbia, for a total of 538. You can learn more about the Electoral College at: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/index.html

How do I become poll worker?
Every state has different requirements. Go to the Election Administration Commission’s website to find out what’s typically required: www.eac.gov/.

When and where are the presidential and vice presidential debates?
October 3, 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time, University of Denver in Denver, CO.
Topic: Domestic policy. Presidential candidates: President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney